A $130 million donation to the Pentagon to help pay U.S. troops during the ongoing government shutdown has been traced to Timothy Mellon, an heir to one of America's wealthiest banking dynasties and a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported. The gift, announced by the president last week as an anonymous act of "patriotism," has raised serious questions about legality and precedent in federal spending.
President Trump told reporters at the White House that the contribution came from "a great patriot" and "a friend of mine." He added, "He's a wonderful man, and he doesn't want publicity." However, The Times later identified the donor as Mellon, a billionaire railroad magnate whose grandfather, Andrew Mellon, served as Treasury Secretary during the Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover administrations.
According to The Times, Mellon's donation could violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from spending money not appropriated by Congress. Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday that the department accepted the gift "under its general gift acceptance authority," saying it would be used "to offset the cost of Service members' salaries and benefits." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, "We are grateful for this donor's assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops."
The move comes amid a record-setting federal shutdown, now entering its fourth week, as lawmakers remain deadlocked over health care funding. The Trump administration told Congress that $6.5 billion was required for the most recent military payroll. Officials have already shifted $8 billion from research and development accounts to ensure troops were paid last week. It remains unclear how the administration will fund the next cycle.
Experts have questioned both the legality and the optics of the donation. "That's crazy," said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. "It's treating the payment of our uniformed services as if someone's picking up your bar tab."
The Pentagon's policy requires officials to consult with ethics officers before accepting gifts valued at more than $10,000 to ensure that donors have no pending claims, contracts, or litigation involving the department. Mellon's direct ties to the Trump campaign - including a $50 million donation to the former president's super PAC during the 2024 election cycle - are likely to heighten scrutiny.
